[PSUBS-MAILIST] big lesson

[hank pronk via Personal_Submersibles]

I learned a big expensive lesson today, when I was backing my cart and Gamma down the boat ramp, the ramp was super slimy and slippery.  The cart lost traction and slid down the ramp and submerged about 15 feet down after sliding past the end of the ramp.  Normally I have a winch line on it but it was working so well with posi track, I got over confident.
Well my wife and I retrieved the cart, but the engine was flooded and we had no hydraulics for steering or moving.
I bypassed the hydraulics and tried to pull the sub and cart onto the trailer with my brother pulling with his truck to help.  Well in my haste I forgot the safety strap that prevents the sub from sliding off the cart when going up a steep grade. Well Gamma slid backwards off the cart onto the pavement :-(  Wrecked my rudder and blocked the ramp, can't go ahead or back :-(  Well I called a 22 ton crane in  and 1,000 dollars later Gamma is sitting in my driveway.

But while I was waiting for my brother to drive out to the lake to help me, I went diving and it was spectacular  :-)
 Gamma is so rock solid with the new ballast tank system.  
Hank